Box Score The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs seem to bring out the best in UW-Stevens Point's Michelle Sosnowski (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield Central), though the sophomore waited an extra long time on Saturday to bring out her very best.

The wait was well worth it, however, as Sosnowski ended the longest game in Pointers' women's hockey history with a double overtime goal to lead UW-Stevens Point to a 3-2 win over UW-Superior for its fourth straight NCHA playoff title.

Sosnowski scored 6:07 into the second 20-minute sudden death session as the game was just nine seconds longer than the previous duration record set in an NCAA Division III quarterfinal game at Gustavus Adolphus in 2004.

The Pointers, who also won Friday's semifinal game over UW-River Falls in overtime and beat the Yellowjackets in double overtime in the 2004 league title game, are now 18-6-2 overall and await a possible NCAA tournament berth. The NCHA does not have an automatic bid to the tournament, but at least one of the league's teams will be selected on an at-large basis. UW-Superior is now 18-6-3 overall and the teams split their four meetings this season. NCAA tournament pairings will be released on Sunday night.

Sosnowski scored two goals in Friday's win and also had a goal in each of the Pointers' NCHA tournament wins in 2006. She scored the game-winner when Nicole Grossmann (Lindstrom, MN/Chisago Lakes) won the face off back to Tracy Butler (Marshfield/Marshfield), who passed to Sosnowski.

The Pointers never trailed in the title game, taking a lead just 3:45 into the game on a power play goal by Chris Hanson (South St. Paul, MN/South St. Paul) that was assisted by Sosnowski. UW-Superior tied the game on a power play goal by Brianne Mosher at the 1:45 mark of the second period, but Katy Lankey (Baraboo/Baraboo) put the Pointers back ahead less than two minutes later.

The Yellowjackets' Ashley Jenkins tied the game at 2-2 with a power play goal 4:16 into the third period and the teams skated scoreless until Sosnowski's score that came nearly 42 minutes later.

UW-Stevens Point held a 45-41 advantage in shots as both goalies had big games. Amy Statz (Wisconsin Rapids/Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) made 39 saves and was the winning goaltender in the NCHA finals for the fourth straight year. Melissa Kunzelman made 42 stops for the Yellowjackets, including 16 in the overtime periods.